"Quick and Simple Modular Asphalt" Topic

Not shocking or amazing, but Irrational Number Line Games' Idea of the Week (well … month … we've been lazy posting) is some instructions and advice on making modern aspahult modular boards from paper backed foamboard that you can get in pretty much any office store.

A few tips and tricks about warping and keeping things from sliding around … and chalk outlines …

cool stuff thx!

That's a really great idea! I hadn't thought about having each ft square of table split into 3" lanes for cars, and the remaining 6" buildings. My mate's son has a toy mat, one of those rubber backed ones with multiple roads and cars, building etc on, it's about 3' by 5', we just draw on the black rubber reverse side with chalk, looks good and flexible (redraw how you want)

You have a good solution here though, would you consider basing the roads etc on 1-2mm wooden ply or something for additional strength?

Great stuff, keep us posted!

Ark3n

Black foam core board makes a nice asphalt blacktop. I cut mt intersections as cross shaped to avoid the floating gaps where the long streets connect. I laid down some painters' tape to paint the dotted lane separators and the side lines. Found cheap street lights, mail boxes, phone booths, and hydrants at a model train store.

I like that. I have been using sandpaper on my tiles, but I think this makes more sense.

Thanks.

Foam board is a nice, durable surface, and has the added benefit that when it takes nicks and scratches, it ends up looking like asphault with gauges and potholes.

You certainly could back these up on another material, but I haven't found a need to. They end up lighter to transport (and real cheap to ship!) on their own. The warping under its own weight when upside down isn't a problem unless you are going to play with it upside down using figures with magnetic bases. (I have done that before, but not with asphault.) Roads are pretty much going to lie on a hard surface during play.